Phone service plans announced, activation via iTunes

Source: Thinksecret.com
Apple and AT&T announced Tuesday that three service plans will be available to iPhone customers, starting at $59.99 and topping out at $99.99 per month. In addition, the companies said iPhone owners will activate the device and select their plan through iTunes, confirming an earlier Think Secret report.

"Users will be able to activate their new iPhone in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated," Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, said in a statement. "There are tens of millions of people in the US who already know how to sync their iPods with iTunes, and syncing their new iPhone with iTunes works the same way."

Apple has also posted a new video of the iPhone activation procedure and sync feature.

All three plans include unlimited data, visual voicemail, 200 SMS text messages, rollover minutes, and unlimited minutes to other Cingular customers. As previously noted, the iPhone does not support multimedia MMS messaging.

For $59.99, customers receive 450 anytime minutes and 5000 night and weekend minutes. An additional $20 ($79.99) gets 900 anytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekends, while another $20 ($99.99) gives customers 1350 anytime minutes.

iPhone goes on sale at 6:00 p.m. (local time) on Friday, June 29 and will be sold in the US through Apple’s retail and online stores and AT&T retail stores.

In preparation for the rollout, sources report that Apple retail store employees are being told not to bring laptops or cell phones to work this week because they contain cameras. While most stores expect to get their shipment of iPhones Friday morning, others will see shipments arrive throughout the week.